Lo Negro Sobre Lo Oro (The Black over the Gold)

The Artist

Born in Mitimiti in Northland, from 1950-51 this leading contemporary NZ artist attended King Edward Technical College in Dunedin, later studying at London’s Central St Martin’s School of Art and Crafts. Well known for his use of black, the artist has produced contemplative, minimalist geometric abstractions such as the Black Paintings series, as well as more expressionist works in reference to personal, environmental and political concerns. Hotere often uses a wide range of media in his work, including painting, printmaking and sculpture, and employs a variety of industrial building materials such as corrugated iron, polished stainless steel and old wooden window frames as supports. Many of his works are based on New Zealand poetry by Bill Manhire, Hone Tuwhare and Cilla McQueen, and he has collaborated with fellow artists John Reynolds, Bill Culbert, Max Gimblett and others. Among his commissions is a work for The University of Auckland School of Music (1985) and for City Gallery in Civic Square, Wellington.